Cover for washbollers



No. 6l7,966. Patented Jan. I], I899.

E. '0. LUNT.

COVER FOR WASHBOILERS.

(Application filed. May 4, 1898 (No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMMA O. LUNT, OF DOVER, NE\V HAMPSHIRE.

COVER FOR WASHBOILERS.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,966, dated January 17, 1899.

Application filed May 4, 1898- Serial No. 679,681. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMA O. LUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dover, in the county of Strafford and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers for \Vashboilers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvementin covers for washboilers; and its objects are to provide a cover with a steam-vent and adapted to be used in an inverted position to receive wet clothes and to discharge drained water therefrom into the boiler. These objects are attained by providing a cover deeper than, but of substantially the same contour as, the cover commonly in use. A series of perforations are made at the center or apex of the cover, and a shield or bridge of wire web or netting is secured over the inner side of said apex to prevent clogging of the perforations. The size and number of the perforations are such as to permit the escape of suflicient steam to prevent the water from overflowing the boiler while the clothes are being boiled.

In adapting the cover as a receptacle or tray for conveniently holding the wet clothes or articles when dished up out of the boiler while draining the surplus water therefrom said cover is slid inverted laterally from'one end of the boiler along its'top edge, thus securing the cover against accidental displacement.

In the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the cover. Fig. 2 is a top plan View. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View thereof. Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section through an inverted lid applied to a boiler, andv Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second form of retaining device.

Referring to said drawings by letters of reference, A is the cover and is of substantially the same contour as those in general use,which slope upwardly toward the center and form an apex. The cover has a series of perforations I3 around its apex. On the inside of the cover and directly beneath said perforations B is rigidly secured a sheet of wire-net ting C, adapted to bridge the under surface of the apex, as shown.

Upon the upper surface of the top A, at equal distances from the center and at a distance from each other equal to the width of the boiler a, are preferably hooked lugs or plates D, curved inward and adapted to rest on and engage with the bead formed upon the upper edge of the boiler when said cover is placed in an inverted and transverse position for use as a drain to be slipped over the boiler from one end. The lugs D have their base portions thickened, as at CV, to reinforce or strengthen the cover thereat to prevent undue wear or weakening of the same, said thickened base portion resting upon the edges or bead of the boiler and removing the cover from direct contact with the latter. If desired, however, another form of securing device, as shown in Fig. 5, may be employed. This consists of two plates d, located similarly to the plates before described and hinged to the cover face inward, said plates being held normally downwardly upon the cover by springs d, secured to the cover at one end, as shown. The free ends of said springs rest and are adapted to slide upon the plates cl, and while permitting the same to be drawn upward exert a continuous inward and downward pressure thereupon. In applying this form of retaining device the plates are drawn upward and sprung over the sides of the. boiler, pressing tightly thereagainst and securely retaining the inverted cover in its transverse position.

For the purpose of manipulating said cover preferably swinging handles E are provided near each end thereof, as shown.

When it is desired to use the cover as a drain, it is inverted and placed crosswise upon the top of the boiler, as shown, retaining devices D or cl fitting over or against the sides and preventing all tilting or transverse movement. Clothes may then be placed therein, and all free water will drain off through the perforations B back into the boiler, as will be obvious, the wire-netting 0 serving to prevent clogging of perforations. In the foregoing specification I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cover for washboilers, the combination of a top having a perforated apex, the Wire-netting attached to the inside of the cover, as shown, with retaining devices upon the upper surface of said cover on a line with the handles at each end thereof, adapted to engage with the sides of the boiler when the cover is in an inverted position for use as a 

